Andrew Broad won’t contest next election as ‘sugar babes’ scandal hits Nationals

The deputy PM says Andrew Broad made the correct decision to quit politics over his “unacceptable, inappropriate” behaviour.

Nationals MP Andrew Broad will withdraw his preselection for the seat of Mallee. Picture: Gary Ramage

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has declared disgraced Victorian Nationals MP Andrew Broad “made the right decision” to quit politics at the next election, as his own leadership comes under pressure over his handling of the Hong Kong “sugar babes” scandal.

The saga has also further damaged the Nationals brand at the end of a chaotic year for the party, in which Barnaby Joyce resigned as Nationals leader following an affair with his staffer.

As Nationals MPs fume, Mr McCormack — who claimed to have only learned about the Broad allegations two weeks ago despite the police investigating matters in early November — thanked Mr Broad for his service and defended choosing him as his assistant minister.

“Mr Broad has now made the right decision to stand aside and not recontest the seat of Mallee,” Mr McCormack said.

“In doing so he has accepted the sort of behaviour, which has prompted his decision, is inappropriate and unacceptable.

“Mr Broad has been a passionate advocate for regional and farming issues representing his Victorian electorate since 2013, which led to his promotion as the assistant minister, in September this year.”

 

Broad withdraws preselection bid

Mr Broad has withdrawn his preselection for the safe Nationals seat of Mallee, which he holds by 19.8 per cent, but intends to remain in parliament until the election.

Quitting before the likely May poll would trigger a by-election, which could be disastrous for Scott Morrison, who already leads a minority government with just 73 seats on the floor of federal parliament.

Mr Broad was said to have offered to stand down ahead of the election.

His decision comes a day after New Idea published allegations he used a “sugar daddy” website to connect with a younger woman, Amy, who he went on a failed date with in Hong Kong and sent sexually explicit text messages to in the lead up to their dinner.

Mr Broad allegedly sent a photo of himself with Governor-General Peter Cosgrove after being promoted to the ministry in August and referred to himself as “James Bond”.

Nationals MP Andrew Broad with his wife Rachel.

He also allegedly complained about how expensive the prices were at the ritzy Aqua restaurant that he and Amy, who goes by the online name “Sweet Sophia Rose”, dined in.

The Australian is not suggesting the allegations are true only that they have been made.

A key supporter of Mr McCormack, Mr Broad was forced to resign as assistant minister to the Deputy Prime Minister yesterday in the wake of the publication of the New Idea article.

Mr Broad, who is married to wife Rachel, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2013.

Mr Broad said in a statement that his regional Victorian seat of Mallee would be “best served” by a new Nationals candidate, and that he had let down the Nationals and his family.

“After recent media stories about my private life, it is clear that the people of Mallee will be best served in the next parliament by a different Nationals candidate,” he said.

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He is a former president of the Victorian Farmers Federation and a wheat and sheep farmer.

As a backbencher Mr Broad was outspoken and made bizarre comments during the gay marriage debate.

“I can put the rams in a paddock and they might mount one another, but no lambs will come out,” he said in February of 2016.

He was also the first Nationals MP to urge Barnaby Joyce to quit amid revelations the then Nationals leader had had an affair with his staffer Vikki Campion.